Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-22
DDrC1s CaIelOl.
CHAPTER XII.

Invent up to my room and sat down by the
FIRE, In q dreary, unhappy mood. Miss
Armund was dead, and she had died with.
out revealing the secret Of my birth, which
felt sure she possessed. She had only bab-
bled meaninglessiy Of people who were
nothing to me- What mattered it, / said
her talk of Philip Caledon; he was naught to
me, surely.
Twas awakened in the afternoon from q
light sleep, into which had fallen, by some
one announcing that Miss Clayton and her
daughter had arrived. Mrs. Kent came up
TO nay room in some excitement.
"You had better go down, Dorcas, and
greet them" she said; "Mrs. Iceberg evil
IDENTIFY thinks You are acquainted with them,
and has sent up word for you to meet them"
hardy knew what TO do. dreaded to
go down and encounter their naughty, in
sulting manners which / felt sure they
would exhibit, and dare not stay away lest
I look suspicious.
Accordingly, urged by Mrs. Kent, de-
scended to the parlor, where found assem-
bled the Leibergs, Oliver Dudley, Mrs.
Clayton and her daughter, beside the physi-
clan and one or two others.
1t is not to be wondered at that I felt
some trepidation on entering. But, reso-
lutely swallowing my fears, / crossed to
where Mrs Clayton was standing with her
daughter, proud, beautiful Irma Barrett at
her side. bowed and extended my hand
to them in token of friendly greeting. But
what was my amaZement and chagrin when
they only returned my salutation with a
naughty, inquiring stare, as if we were the
most distant strangers. / felt ready to sink
with shame and modification, for saw all
eyes were fixed upon me, and my first i'm
pulse was TO rush from the room and hide
myself, drown myself, any thing only that
might be spared the insults this family had
heaped upon me. But the next moment my
proud spirit asserted itself would not be
Quelled or beaten without a struggle. ]
stepped back cody.
O"Xou may or you may not recognize me,
Mrs. Clayton" / said, ''but we are not
strangers, you and /, however much you
may wish to impress these people to that
effect"
Mrs. Clayton colored and bit her lip Irma
endeavored to annihilate me with glance,
but did not falter. Just at this critical
moment, when all were viewing me with
arazement, Mr.. Dudley stepped forward
smiling and bowed in that courteous way OF
his, saying lightly, as if it were the most
natural mistake in tho world, though un.
dorstood it all:
SIS it possible, Mrs. Clayton, that you
have forgotten our mutual friend, Miss
Lynnr'
felt rather than saw the meaning glance
he threw at her from his brown eyes. But
Mrs. Clayton understood at once, evidently,
for she greeted me, in rather cons trained
manner, however, and Irna followed her
mothers example. | accepted it, for | could
not do otherwise with those inquiring eyes
upon me; but my anger was reused and my
cheeks burned hotly while my heart beat
fast and hard with passion of rage and
grief.
Silently we visited tho room where Miss
Armund was lying, slumbering so quietly.
Mrs. Clayton expressed sincere grief at her
friends death, but l saw that it was only
assumed for there was an undercurrent Of
joy running through the whole of her af-
fectcd grief, and saw she gave the orders
for the necessary arrangements attending
the interrment of her friend with evident
satisfaction.
Mrs. Clayton had changed somewhat in
the past ten years She was still handsome,
but there were dark lines about the proud
mouth, and heavy rings, that told of sleep
less nights, under the large liquid eyes.
Irma, too, looked worn and haggard; but
er is imprisoned on the awful charge of muir
der.
The funeral of Miss Armund was over;
the still, withered form had been consigned
to motherearth, and we were all again as
sembled in the dull, fire-lightcd parlor
at Mrs. Leiberg's. A strange hush fell
over the room at first, as if all were waiting
to hear something of Importance; but pres
emily Mrs. Clayton arose and spoke some
what hurriedly and sharply:
"Mr Dudley" she said, "you informed
me that my presence and my daughters lin
dicating Irma, with nod toward herr, was
necessary here to attend to some legal mat
ter pertaining to the will of Miss Armund.
What they are am sure can not imagine,
or how they can interest us; am willing
to hear them, however, but please be as
explicit as possible, as l have important
business to attend TO yet to-day"
She sat down, and Mr.. Rathbun, little,
white haired old gentleman, arose. lie an
nounced himself as Miss ArmuAd's legal
adviser, and also that he held in his posses
sion her will and other documents Of some
value he presumed.
Mrs. Clayton smiled It was smile of
triumph and disdain. What did the will of
the old, unloved woman amount to, anyway
it said.
81 have no wish to cause you unnecessa-
ry delay, Mrs. Clayton" said the old gen.
tleman, politely; ~ will therefore proceed
at once to business"
He then began to read the will Of Agnes
Armund, which bequeathed to an asylum
for INDECENT widows her entire fortune,
which consisted of ten thousand dollars,
which amount would be found deposited in
the B. bank, and it also appointed Mr..
Rathbun and Oliver Dudley as executors.
The lawyer laid down the will when he
had finished reading it. Mrs. Clayton made
a movement to rise and leave, but he de-
tanned her with motion of his hand
Be patient, please, he said; "this other
paper have here is probably the one in
which you are concerned"
He held up sealed packet.
s'This," he continued, twas given me by
Miss Armund about year ago; of its con-
tents know nothing, but she requested me
to read it at the same time l should her
will; will now do So"
He tore open the packet, disclosing
several sheets Of note paper closely written.
Mrs. Clayton turned pale, l saw her
gasp suddenly, as if choked; but the next
instant she regained her self-composure.
The lawyer began to read slowly-every
word being distinctly heard in the dead
stiffness that reigned, even the clock
licked less loudly than before it seemed
''Years ago." the letter or statement ran,
there lived in A family known as the
Caledons; they were proud race, rich as